The Way We Met - an Olicity Au

two

2 years earlier
The flashing lights of paparazzi blinded me, as I used my hand to block the cameras, keeping my head down. It was the opening of a new branch office to Queen Consolidated in Las Vegas and tonight called for celebration. The red carpet flooded with reporters, as people in the background posed, dressed in elegant designer clothes.

I was just there to do all the formalities, cut the ribbon, give a short speech and leave. This wasn't my kind of scene, although it definitely might have been 5 years ago. 22 year old me would have been having the time of his life, intoxicated and wasted, flashy watch on my wrist and probably with a girl on each arm.

But tonight was quite the opposite, there were no girls, and no fancy watches.

2 years ago I took over my father's legacy, the family owned company that he built from scratch. When the time came, it was my turn to put up or shut up, to grow up, and take the responsibility I had as a Queen. I became the face of QC, and rose to the occasion.

The job was exhausting, I never took any breaks, and my life seemed to be paperwork, endless paper work. The work was hard, and the hours long, but I loved it all the same. It was my company now, my turn to leave a mark on this world, and that meant something to me. But today I was tired. Just tired.

_______ (time jump)

I sat at the bar, the after party's music booming in my ears.
"Shot of vodka" I said to the bartender who gave me a curt nod and slid the drink my way over the counter.
This had to have been my 5th or 6th drink that night, my mind was hazy, the band playing so loud I couldn't hear myself think. I gotta get out of here I said to no one in particular, stumbling out of my chair. As I found my way out of the ballroom, I was praised congratulations for the new buildings; trying to hold myself together I nodded, smiled and continued my path towards the exit.

It was a cool September night, the heat of August finally wearing off, and a small shiver came over me as I opened the door to the back alley. I paced, back and forth and back and forth trying to concentrate, a task I was finding rather difficult. To any onlooker the sight would have been ridiculous, a CEO billionaire in a tuxedo sulking in an alley alone on his big night.

Eventually my legs gave in, and I could no longer stand upright. I walked out onto the street, the honking of cars and the sounds of hurried footsteps reminded me of home, of star city. I took a seat on the curb of the sidewalk , my legs outstretched into the street and un-did my tie, leaving it disregarded on the ground.

I admired the street lamps, which resembled those found on every street corner of Starling. They were the north stars of the city, the lights that guided and brought us home. I put my head in my hands, my eyes closing, my eyelids drooping. This was turning out to be an even worse night then I had previously planned.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, startling me from my light sleep. My eyes opened and I looked up to find a young cocktail waitress in a very revealing dress looking back at me. Her dress, short, tight and most likely extremely uncomfortable remained out of focus as I tried to return from my drunken state.
"Sorry, to bother you sir, you just looked very upset" she said, her eyebrows crinkling in concern.
"No don't worry about it, nothing you could fix." My tone harsh and dismissive.
"Oh, I'm so sorry for the bother than" she said apologetically, looking embarrassed to have woken me; she turned to walk away.
"No, I didn't mean that." I called after her, feeling immediately guilty, "you don't have to go" I said, as an after thought.
She turned back to face me and smiled, sitting down on the curb next to me. Her appearance was slightly disheveled, her lipstick, bright red, stained her tooth and she began to take off the 6 inch heels that supported her.
"Are you sure there's nothing I can do? How about a drink?" She asked.
"No, I've had quite enough of those, got me into this mess in the first place." I answered still looking at the ground.
"Oh well maybe just someone to talk to?" She persisted "you know talking is very therapeutic"
"I don't want to talk. I can't talk" my words came out slurred.
"How about I talk, and maybe, if you're up for it, you can listen?" She asked, her voice was soothing, relaxing my internal chaos.
"Huh?" I grunted.
"What if I told you about how shit my life is right now? Maybe it'll make you feel better."
"Okay sure." I chuckled at her response, "I'm Oliver Queen by the way" I said sticking out my hand to take hers.
"Of course, everyone knows who you are, Mr queen! Your names and the side of this building" she said pointing up the monumentous sky scraper that we sat beneath.
"That it is..."
"Felicity, Felicity Smoak."

A/N, so we introduced Felicity!! Yay!! This weeks mid season finale was amazing!!! All the olicity undertones were great :) anyway, this will be updated when I hit 100 reads, so tell your friends, and hit that vote button.
All the love,
Ella.